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Statistics : ? GDP: US$32 billion (2005 estimate). ? Main imports: Industrial materials, nondurable consumer goods, and agricultural products. ? Main exports: Petroleum, bananas, coffee, cacao, cut flowers and shrimp. ? Main trade partners: USA, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and China. Economy : Following economic crisis and poverty, the adoption of the US Dollar (in 2000) has stablised the nation's economy. However, 41% of the population are still below the poverty line (2006). Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources, which has earned 40% of the country's export revenue in recent years. It is the world's largest exporter of bananas and also grows coffee, cocoa, palm oil and sugar in significant quantities. Fishing is another important sector: seafood exports have expanded rapidly to the point where Ecuador is now the world's second-largest producer of shrimps. The mining sector produces gold, silver, copper and other metals. Ecuador is a member of the World Trade Organisation. In recent years, the country's increasing oil revenues have largely been devoted to paying off the country's substantial foreign debt. Ecuador is a member of the main regional integration bodies: the Andean Union and Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI). Commercial Information : The Federación Nacional de Cámaras de Comercio del Ecuador. (This chamber usually swaps location, between Quito and Guayaquil, every two years. In 2006, it is in Guayaquil.) Francisco de Orellana y Miguel Alciras, Ciudadela Kennedy Norte, Edificio Las Cámaras, Guayaquil, Ecuador Tel: (4) 268 2771. Note: In 2008, it will be in Quito: Amazonas y República, Edificio las Cámaras, Apartado 17-01-202, Quito, Ecuador Tel: (2) 244 3787. Website: www.pequenaindustria.com Centro de Exposiciones Quito de la Federación Ecuatoriana de la Pequeña Industria de Pichincha (Information on Conferences/Conventions) Avenidas Amazonas y Atahualpa no 34-332, Centro de Exposiciones, Quito, Ecuador Tel: (2) 244 3388. Website: www.capeipi.com |
